Nico Collins listed as top 10 WR for 2026 season by Sports Illustrated

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Would Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins be an All-Pro at this point if not for injuries?

Collins, the Texans' go-to target, has been a staple of the passing game since being drafted out of Michigan in 2021. Once C.J. Stroud arrived in 2023, things turned the corner for the better.

Over the past three years, Collins has become a two-time Pro Bowler, a three-time 1,000-yard pass-catcher, and has moved up the pecking order toward the all-time leader in receiving yards with Houston. Even though he's never played a full season due to injuries, the 27-year-old remains a staple of Houston's success in both the regular and postseason.

While he's not an All-Pro, Collins has to be considered a consensus top 10 target entering 2026, right? According to Sports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim, even with the injuries, Collins still belongs in the top 10 ranking, coming in at No. 10.

"Since he was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, Collins has emerged as the Texans’ top playmaker. He has recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances," Geitheim wrote. "Collins has been pivotal to the Texans’ success since the team drafted C.J. Stroud in 2023, helping Houston reach the playoffs in three consecutive years. He’s been Houston’s most reliable weapon, especially in the intermediate and deep areas of the field, and particularly as the Texans have dealt with inconsistency at offensive line and running back."

Much like Stroud's success in the offense, Collins' name is attached to the success of Stroud. The duo has put together three double-digit winning seasons and three postseason wins.

Perhaps the lone downside of Collins' impact is his counterparts. Over the past three seasons, there hasn't been a consistent No. 2 weapon who could take over games and elevate the passing attack. Injuries — like ones to Tank Dell and former Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs — significantly derailed the growth of Stroud. Other players, like Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, are still coming into their own as pass-catchers and haven't been able to reach the next gear.

To read all 10 names and see if Collins was snubbed a spot or two, click here.

The Texans return to the pracitce fields for the start of training camp on July 21.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Nico Collins listed as top 10 WR for 2026 season by Sports Illustrated

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